Marianne had the sense that her real life was happening somewhere very far away, happening without her, and she didn’t know if she would ever find out where it was or become a part of it.
normal people, sally rooney
Author: Sally Rooney
Publication Date: 16 April 2019
Page Count: 288
Reading Method: Physical Book
Synopsis:
Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town, but the similarities end there. At school, Connell is popular and well liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation—awkward but electrifying—something life changing begins.
A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years at university, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. And as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save the other.
Review:
Overall, I enjoyed the story.
It’s basically two people, who are really bad at communication, Ross and Rachel-ing their way through the years. Will they, won’t they – all that nonsense. I had a really hard time connecting with the characters and felt that at the end of the story, I still didn’t know all that much about them. Both Marianne and Connell have their fair share of trauma and I think maybe the whole point of the story is watching them move through, process, and grow from it – and how they help each other to do so (honestly though, I’m not sure. I don’t think I get this book?) I also think it didn’t help that there are no quotation marks when the characters are speaking – so you have to kind of guess what they’re saying and what they are just thinking. The saving element of this story, for me, was Connells mom. I would want to be her friend.
After finishing the book, I jumped right to the Hulu adaptation and honestly, liked it more than the book (*gasp!*). I just felt a deeper connection with the characters and their emotions – probably because it was played out on screen instead of monotonously delivered in text. I also preferred the way the ending was handled in the show. It gave it more resolution than how it was delivered in the book.
